TREELINES

NEWSLETTER OF THE SASKATCHEWAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION

Visit us at: www.whitebirch.ca

Contact us at: SFA

Saskatchewan Forestry Association

139-1061 Central Avenue

Prince Albert SK S6V 4V4

Ph: (306) 763-2189

Fax: (306) 763-6456

E-mail: info@whitebirch.ca

In this Issue

President’s Message………… 2

Government Improves Wildfire

Response……………………….

3

Out and about………………….. 4

International Day of Forests ….. 5

Weak dollar helps forestry,

tourism…………………………

6

American Crow………………... 7

Researchers grow cyberforests

to predict climate change………

8-9

Teacher’s corner……………….

10-15

Our partners …………………... 16

You are invited to attend the Annual General

Meeting of the Saskatchewan Forestry Association

When: Monday, March 21st, 2016 (12:15pm-2pm)

Where: The large board room in the Forest Centre

located in the MNP (accounting) office.

Why: Join us to see where the organization is at

and learn about the uses of Unmanned Aerial Vehi-

cles plus you will be treated to a pizza lunch!

David Halstead from Saskatchewan Polytechnic

will be our speaker. He will introduce us to the

changes from SIAST to Sask Polytech and the re-

search vehicles that they have purchased. Not to be

missed!

2

President’s Message – Spring 2016

Sindy Nicholson

Happy spring everyone! Well the predicted El Niño has oc-

curred, bringing us a fairly warm winter with little snow.

How this will affect the upcoming wildfire season is yet to be

seen, but hopefully our beautiful province will not undergo a

wildfire season similar to 2015. With spring comes our annu-

al membership renewal time (only $25 per individual mem-

ber!) and our annual general meeting (AGM). We continue our productive cohabitation of office space

with the Prince Albert Model Forest and are located at 139 – 1061 Central Avenue in Prince Albert. Feel

free to drop in anytime for a visit with office manager Bernadette Slager, read some forest related

literature, pick up a Kristi Lake Trail Brochure, or raise whatever other forestry issue you would like us to

help you with. We have a new Prime Minister in Canada and shortly after our AGM, Saskatchewan will

undergo its own provincial election. The SFA has once again applied for summer student funding, so help

us spread the word to potential employees to submit their resume in to us for consideration. As always,

please help us with our maintenance of Kristi Lake Trail by informing the SFA (info@whitebirch.ca or 306

-763-2189) if you are out on the trail and encounter downed trees, if the garbage needs emptying, or any-

thing else you happen across and think is important for us to know. I trust that you are enjoying your 2016

so far, and hope to see many of you at our upcoming AGM. Remember to cast your vote on April 4, 2016!

Editor: Andrea Atkinson

Layout: Jamie Randell

Contributors: Bernadette Slager

Sindy Nicholson

Brittany Morin

3

Government Improves Wildfire Response and Emergency Planning in Saskatchewan

Released on February 23, 2016

The Government of Saskatchewan is taking immediate steps to improve

fire safety and emergency management in the province. This includes

investing in longer-term protection measures for northern people fol-

lowing an engagement process with communities, First Nations, local

leaders, industry and residents affected by the province’s historic 2015 wildfire season.

“We are grateful for the feedback shared by residents, business owners and community leaders, who were af-

fected by the wildfires,” Government Relations Minister Jim Reiter said. “The Government of Saskatchewan

will continue to work with communities to improve on preparedness and operations planning that will help us

in case of future emergencies.”

“I am pleased we are able to implement a number of measures to help prepare for the upcoming wildfire season

and beyond,” Environment Minister Herb Cox said. “These initiatives demonstrate our government’s contin-

ued commitment to the safety of Saskatchewan people, communities and infrastructure.”

The Government of Saskatchewan is making immediate and significant improvements in its wildfire response

and emergency management based on the feedback heard, including:

eliminating the 20 kilometre zone as a strategy to prioritize wildfires around communities. Wildfires

threatening human life, communities and infrastructure continue to be the top priority, with every fire assessed

to determine the most appropriate response, based on the level of threat;

hiring an additional eight seasonal firefighting crews in northern communities;

engaging with provincial partners and Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada to review evacuation pro-

cesses and clarify evacuation roles and responsibilities between the province and local authorities;

improving training capacity;

purchasing new equipment;

upgrading weather stations;

enhancing analysis and communications systems; and clarifying policies and roles for large-scale emergency situations.

Given that much of northern Saskatchewan has experienced warmer temperatures and below-normal snowfall

this winter, the Government of Saskatchewan will also bring one CV580 air tanker and one birddog aircraft

into service sooner than normal, and recall wildfire crews two weeks earlier than usual to ensure full prepared-

ness for the 2016 season. The Ministry of Environment, working with local communities and the federal gov-

ernment, has also undertaken fuel mitigation measures in 15 locations to thin and remove vegetation to reduce

wildfire hazards.

The changes being implemented are a result of the provincial review process held over the past six

months. This process included hosting nine northern engagement meetings with elected leaders and communi-

ty officials across northern Saskatchewan; examining written submissions from affected industries and busi-

nesses; and reviewing feedback provided by more than 600 residents through an online survey.